Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 36:33

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Job 36:33

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Job 36:33

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up." — Job 36:33 (ASV)

The noise thereof sheweth concerning it. —This verse is extremely difficult, and the sense very uncertain. We may translate the first clause, “The noise of it (i.e., the crash of the thunder) declares concerning Him:” it is His voice, and speaks of Him; but the last clause is almost unintelligible. The words as they stand mean, or may mean, cattle even concerning one who goes up; but what this means, who shall say? Possibly, the thunder-crash tells the cattle even concerning Him who goes up: i.e., even the cattle show, by their terror, that the thunder speaks to them of God, who goes up on high. (Psalms 68:4; Psalms 68:18; Psalms 47:5.)

Some render the last clause, “The cattle also concerning Him as He rises up;” or, “The cattle also concerning the rising storm.” There can be no doubt that the general meaning is that all nature participates in the terror caused by the thunder, which is regarded as the audible voice of God; but what the exact expression of this general thought may be, it is very hard to say.

There should be no break between this chapter and the next.